Erik Spoelstra’s Slick Divorce Move Saves $120 Million Heat Contract From Ex-Wife
Erik Spoelstra’s Slick Divorce Move Saves $120 Million Heat Contract From Ex-Wife
Erik Spoelstra signed a massive eight-year, $120 million contract extension with the Miami Heat this week.
While his overall record of 725-506 is undoubtedly impressive, where Spoelstra has continuously made his mark has been the postseason.
Consistently, he has guided the Heat to performances that — in most people’s estimations — are overachievements relative to the amount of talent he has to work with. Two NBA championships and six NBA Finals appearances speak for themselves.
Multiple NBA stars reacted quite positively to Spoelstra inking his big-time deal:
https://t.co/ts2pnsBlcO pic.twitter.com/gPi7utQ4kM
— 13am Adebayo💥 (@Bam1of1) January 10, 2024
Worth Every Single Cent of that contract!!! Congrats Spo!! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🫡 https://t.co/ETFBnAZGqA
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 10, 2024
That being said, one of the things folks at home couldn’t help but observe was the timing of this particular extension. Earlier this year, Spoelstra and his long-time wife split up. It didn’t take long for the real reason why to emerge.
The timing of the divorce relative to the contract extension didn’t go unnoticed:
Erik Spoelstra waited until his divorce was finalized to sign the largest contract for an NBA coach, now that’s 4D chess lol
— Dapaul21 (@22Tuas) January 10, 2024
Erik Spoelstra got the bag after the divorce smart man
— $JayMazuma 🛡️ (@JayCapodecina) January 10, 2024
Eric spoelstra waited till after the divorce to sign the big ass extension I see u playa
— Shoal Nuff (@sleezy305) January 10, 2024
In a headline-filled NBA week that saw Paul George’s win-win NBA trade proposal for the Golden State Warriors blow up, a bizarre exchange between James Harden and Bradley Beal’s wife go viral and the Golden State Warriors put their foot down in trade negotiations with the Toronto Raptors, it is telling that Spoelstra’s new contract has caused such a stir.
And it is similarly telling that folks immediately made the connection to the timing of it relative to his divorce.
Katya Kuropas’ Private Photos With JJ McCarthy Go Viral After Michigan Win: https://t.co/bAH0pub6Lg
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 9, 2024
Regardless of the forethought that went into this contract extension, it locks Spoelstra in with Miami for a long time.
Is another NBA Finals run in the Heat and Spoelstra’s immediate future? Time will tell.
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A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
